Madeleine’s heart was thudding painfully. “Does Lady Sophie truly wish to elope?”

“Yes.” Braddon’s voice was a little doubtful. “I’m not sure that she is as suitable as I told you before. She had hysterics last night and told me that unless I climb a ladder to her room at midnight and elope with her, she won’t marry me at all.”

Madeleine almost laughed at Braddon’s hangdog look, despite her own leaden unhappiness.

“I can’t start over, Madeleine—Maddie!” Somehow he had managed to get those long arms around her again and he was talking into her hair. “I’d have to start over, going to Almack’s and trying to find a girl who seems half reasonable. I’ve got to hold on to Lady Sophie. I simply have to figure out how to elope without eloping.”

At least he doesn’t seem genuinely attached to his future wife, Madeleine thought painfully.

“Why don’t you want to elope?” It seemed like a reasonable alternative.

Braddon pulled back, looking indignantly into Madeleine’s unsympathetic brown eyes.

“Won’t you miss me? It will take a week to get to Gretna Green and back, if we don’t get delayed. Why, I could be gone a whole fortnight!”

“I will not miss you,” she retorted. “And you will not be welcome in the stables after you are married.”

“Well, I would miss you,” Braddon said stoutly. “And I don’t believe you. I think you would miss me too. Anyway, I don’t want to get married so soon.” He gave Madeleine a little squeeze and then sank down on a pile of straw, pulling her onto his lap.

She gave a little pooh! of indignation, but relaxed. Braddon pulled her against his chest, enjoying the way Madeleine’s soft curves felt against his legs.

“You’re going to ruin your garments.”

“Practical Maddie,” Braddon whispered into her hair.

Practical Maddie’s heart felt as if it were being squeezed.

“Why don’t you pretend to break your leg?” The minute she said it, she cursed herself. What was she doing, showing interest in his marital plans?

“Break my leg? What d’you mean?”

“If you had a broken leg, you couldn’t climb up a ladder,” she explained brusquely.

Braddon slowly thought it through.

“Damned if you’re not right, Maddie m’girl! I’ll write Lady Sophie a note and tell her I broke my leg, and that will give her time to get over this odd start of hers.”

“Was she really hysterical?”

He frowned. “Close enough.”

“Well, then she probably won’t believe your note,” Madeleine said. “I wouldn’t. I would think that you were just trying to beg off, and that you were too stuffy to elope.”

Appalled, she listened to her own voice. Was there a note of rancor in her tone? She had no right even to think about marrying an Earl of the Realm! For goodness’ sake, it was clear enough that the idea of marrying her, Maddie, had never crossed Braddon’s mind.

“You think Lady Sophie won’t believe my note?”

“She might break off your engagement.”